Ghana’s former President John Dramani Mahama is set to return to office after winning the country’s presidential election. Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, the ruling party candidate, conceded defeat on Sunday as voters expressed frustration with the government’s handling of the economy.
Before the official results were announced, Bawumia acknowledged the outcome, stating he respected the decision of Ghanaians to seek change. “I’ve just called His Excellency John Mahama to congratulate him as president-elect of the Republic of Ghana,” Bawumia told reporters at his residence in Accra.
Mahama, who served as president from July 2012 to January 2017, accepted Bawumia’s congratulations in a post on the X platform, calling his victory “emphatic.” Throughout his campaign, Mahama promised to “reset” the country, focusing heavily on the economy and appealing to young voters, many of whom were hoping for a solution to Ghana’s ongoing economic crisis.
Supporters of Mahama’s opposition party took to the streets in celebration, especially in Accra, where crowds danced to music and trumpet blasts, dressed in the party’s colors of white, green, red, and black. The election, held amid Ghana’s worst cost-of-living crisis in decades, was seen as a crucial test for democracy in a region facing increasing extremist violence and coups. ECOWAS, West Africa’s regional bloc, reported that the election was generally peaceful, continuing Ghana’s trend of stable elections.
Bawumia ran for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), which has faced challenges addressing the economic crisis under outgoing President Nana Akufo-Addo. Mahama’s National Democratic Congress (NDC) also secured a majority in parliament, signaling a clear shift in the country’s political landscape.
